OpenText Life Archives - OpenText Blogs https://blogs.opentext.com/category/news-events/opentext-life/ The Information Company Wed, 04 Jun 2025 18:16:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://blogs.opentext.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cropped-OT-Icon-Box-150x150.png OpenText Life Archives - OpenText Blogs https://blogs.opentext.com/category/news-events/opentext-life/ 32 32 Spotlight On: #OT4Good in Bengaluru  https://blogs.opentext.com/spotlight-on-employee-volunteering-in-bengaluru/ Tue, 27 May 2025 12:21:20 +0000 https://blogs.opentext.com/?p=999308563

At OpenText, we believe in taking steps to support a more sustainable and fair future. Our employees are at the heart of this effort, dedicating their time and energy to making a lasting impact in their communities. Whether volunteering their time with the help of three paid volunteer days each year or fundraising for global causes, OpenTexters across the globe are committed to creating positive change. At OpenText we call this: #OT4Good.  

In this blog post, we shine a spotlight on the employee-led initiatives in Bengaluru, India, that are helping to drive progress in education and climate action.  

Spreading Joy with Every Kit 

In July 2024, the OpenText Bengaluru office partnered with Youth for Seva, a nation-wide movement that inspires youth to volunteer and drive positive change. OpenText sponsored approximately 950 school kits, each containing essentials like backpacks, books, and stationary products. High school kits also included a geometry box, while nursery kits featured colored pencils in addition to their books. 

Our employee volunteers helped assemble and distribute the kits across four schools in Bengaluru city.  

“It was an incredible opportunity to volunteer with Youth for Seva. Our team felt a great sense of fulfillment and joy knowing that we could make a difference in the lives of so many youth and children that will hopefully have a lasting impact and inspire them to give back to society as they grow up and accomplish great things.” – Moby

Stationery Drive with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled 

As the school year began in Bengaluru, our volunteers organized a drive to collect unused stationery materials, gently used clothing and toys for families in need. They then visited Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled to distribute the donations and spend time with the children. 

“Our collective efforts have reached the hearts of 350 children at Samarthanam Trust. The entire OpenText Bengaluru family united to contribute and deliver over 23 cartons filled with stationery, toys, and clothes. The meaningful impact we've made fills us with immense pride and gratitude. This experience reminds us of the transformative power of kindness and teamwork.” - Amudha 

Tree Planting Drive 

In October, OpenText India partnered with United Way of Bengaluru for a tree planting drive as part of the Sidlaghatta Social Forestry project, located in the outskirts of the city. 

Sixty passionate OpenText volunteers gathered to dig the pits, add manure, and carefully plant and water each sapling, resulting in 200 saplings successfully planted that day! 

This project was chosen by our team to fulfill a long-term vision: reforesting 100 acres of land while supporting local families through future fruit sales. This initiative will help restore green cover and strengthen the livelihoods of nearby villages. 

“Sustainability reflects the core values of responsibility and innovation that we embrace at OpenText. It’s fulfilling to be part of an organization that prioritizes creating a positive environmental impact.” - Gaurav 

“I chose to participate in the event because I deeply believe that each of us has a role to play in protecting and preserving the environment. Taking small, proactive steps today can lead to a more sustainable future. Beyond the cause itself, the event also offered a unique chance to interact with my colleagues in a more relaxed and meaningful setting, strengthening our sense of community and shared purpose.” - Pushpanjali

At OpenText, our employees recognize the importance of giving back to the communities where they live and work. Over the past months, the OpenText team in Bengaluru focused their impact on quality education, aiding the well-being of underprivileged students, and supporting the environment around us. If you want to learn more about life at OpenText, visit our careers page at careers.opentext.com.  

The post Spotlight On: #OT4Good in Bengaluru  appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>

At OpenText, we believe in taking steps to support a more sustainable and fair future. Our employees are at the heart of this effort, dedicating their time and energy to making a lasting impact in their communities. Whether volunteering their time with the help of three paid volunteer days each year or fundraising for global causes, OpenTexters across the globe are committed to creating positive change. At OpenText we call this: #OT4Good.  

In this blog post, we shine a spotlight on the employee-led initiatives in Bengaluru, India, that are helping to drive progress in education and climate action.  

Spreading Joy with Every Kit 

In July 2024, the OpenText Bengaluru office partnered with Youth for Seva, a nation-wide movement that inspires youth to volunteer and drive positive change. OpenText sponsored approximately 950 school kits, each containing essentials like backpacks, books, and stationary products. High school kits also included a geometry box, while nursery kits featured colored pencils in addition to their books. 

Our employee volunteers helped assemble and distribute the kits across four schools in Bengaluru city.  

“It was an incredible opportunity to volunteer with Youth for Seva. Our team felt a great sense of fulfillment and joy knowing that we could make a difference in the lives of so many youth and children that will hopefully have a lasting impact and inspire them to give back to society as they grow up and accomplish great things.” – Moby

Stationery Drive with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled 

As the school year began in Bengaluru, our volunteers organized a drive to collect unused stationery materials, gently used clothing and toys for families in need. They then visited Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled to distribute the donations and spend time with the children. 

“Our collective efforts have reached the hearts of 350 children at Samarthanam Trust. The entire OpenText Bengaluru family united to contribute and deliver over 23 cartons filled with stationery, toys, and clothes. The meaningful impact we've made fills us with immense pride and gratitude. This experience reminds us of the transformative power of kindness and teamwork.” - Amudha 

Tree Planting Drive 

In October, OpenText India partnered with United Way of Bengaluru for a tree planting drive as part of the Sidlaghatta Social Forestry project, located in the outskirts of the city. 

Sixty passionate OpenText volunteers gathered to dig the pits, add manure, and carefully plant and water each sapling, resulting in 200 saplings successfully planted that day! 

This project was chosen by our team to fulfill a long-term vision: reforesting 100 acres of land while supporting local families through future fruit sales. This initiative will help restore green cover and strengthen the livelihoods of nearby villages. 

“Sustainability reflects the core values of responsibility and innovation that we embrace at OpenText. It’s fulfilling to be part of an organization that prioritizes creating a positive environmental impact.” - Gaurav 

“I chose to participate in the event because I deeply believe that each of us has a role to play in protecting and preserving the environment. Taking small, proactive steps today can lead to a more sustainable future. Beyond the cause itself, the event also offered a unique chance to interact with my colleagues in a more relaxed and meaningful setting, strengthening our sense of community and shared purpose.” - Pushpanjali

At OpenText, our employees recognize the importance of giving back to the communities where they live and work. Over the past months, the OpenText team in Bengaluru focused their impact on quality education, aiding the well-being of underprivileged students, and supporting the environment around us. If you want to learn more about life at OpenText, visit our careers page at careers.opentext.com.  

The post Spotlight On: #OT4Good in Bengaluru  appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>
Advancing with OpenText’s education allowance https://blogs.opentext.com/advancing-with-opentexts-education-allowance/ Mon, 21 Apr 2025 13:37:30 +0000 https://blogs.opentext.com/?p=999307907

Read parts one and two of our three-part series: Cultivating Curiosity and Ambition to Reimagine Our Careers and Shaping futures through the OpenText Finance Academy.

To thrive in the AI era, continuous learning is not just important—it’s essential. From software engineering to accounting, every aspect of how we work is transforming and staying ahead requires ongoing skill development and adaptability.  

At OpenText, we believe learning fuels innovation and growth, which is why we invest in continuous learning and professional development at every stage. Through our study programs, educational allowances, and professional development initiatives, we support OpenTexters to stay relevant by building the knowledge and skills to help them thrive in today’s fast evolving environment.  

Recognizing the value of continuous learning to progress careers, we caught up with OpenTexters who’ve recently leveraged the company’s education allowance to supercharge their skills and shape their careers. Here’s what they said:  

Alejandro Bautista, a customer operations program manager based in the Philippines, used the education allowance to complete a doctoral degree in project management. “Gaining my degree has given me a new perspective plus the confidence and ambition to learn things that have boosted my knowledge in project management. It’s been a valuable opportunity for my professional and personal development.” 

Judy Hazel Cruz, a senior manager in cloud applications consulting based in the Philippines, highlighted that in her role it’s important to stay relevant in a constantly evolving industry. Judy used her education allowance to attend the International IT-BPM Summit, which explores current issues facing the IT industry. “It’s empowering to be in a space where IT professionals from different organizations come together to exchange knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions,” said Judy. “Beyond the insights, the experience was engaging and inspiring and provided me with practical takeaways that I can apply in my role.” 

Gerasimo Torres, a cloud support manager based in the Philippines, said the education allowance helped him advance his career after using it to enrol in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Having completed his studies, Gerasimo says he now feels empowered him to take on larger responsibilities and contribute more effectively to his department’s objectives. He also feels prepared for future leadership opportunities.   

“I’m grateful for OpenText’s dedication to employee growth and development through the education allowance. It reflects the organization's commitment to supporting employees in upgrading their skills, expanding their knowledge, and advancing their careers. It encourages a culture of continuous learning, benefiting both individual career progression and OpenText’s long-term success.” 

Are you ready to expand your skills and reimagine your career with OpenText? Explore our open roles 

The post Advancing with OpenText’s education allowance appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>

Read parts one and two of our three-part series: Cultivating Curiosity and Ambition to Reimagine Our Careers and Shaping futures through the OpenText Finance Academy.

To thrive in the AI era, continuous learning is not just important—it’s essential. From software engineering to accounting, every aspect of how we work is transforming and staying ahead requires ongoing skill development and adaptability.  

At OpenText, we believe learning fuels innovation and growth, which is why we invest in continuous learning and professional development at every stage. Through our study programs, educational allowances, and professional development initiatives, we support OpenTexters to stay relevant by building the knowledge and skills to help them thrive in today’s fast evolving environment.  

Recognizing the value of continuous learning to progress careers, we caught up with OpenTexters who’ve recently leveraged the company’s education allowance to supercharge their skills and shape their careers. Here’s what they said:  

Alejandro Bautista, a customer operations program manager based in the Philippines, used the education allowance to complete a doctoral degree in project management. “Gaining my degree has given me a new perspective plus the confidence and ambition to learn things that have boosted my knowledge in project management. It’s been a valuable opportunity for my professional and personal development.” 

Judy Hazel Cruz, a senior manager in cloud applications consulting based in the Philippines, highlighted that in her role it’s important to stay relevant in a constantly evolving industry. Judy used her education allowance to attend the International IT-BPM Summit, which explores current issues facing the IT industry. “It’s empowering to be in a space where IT professionals from different organizations come together to exchange knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions,” said Judy. “Beyond the insights, the experience was engaging and inspiring and provided me with practical takeaways that I can apply in my role.” 

Gerasimo Torres, a cloud support manager based in the Philippines, said the education allowance helped him advance his career after using it to enrol in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Having completed his studies, Gerasimo says he now feels empowered him to take on larger responsibilities and contribute more effectively to his department’s objectives. He also feels prepared for future leadership opportunities.   

“I’m grateful for OpenText’s dedication to employee growth and development through the education allowance. It reflects the organization's commitment to supporting employees in upgrading their skills, expanding their knowledge, and advancing their careers. It encourages a culture of continuous learning, benefiting both individual career progression and OpenText’s long-term success.” 

Are you ready to expand your skills and reimagine your career with OpenText? Explore our open roles 

The post Advancing with OpenText’s education allowance appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>
Shaping futures through the OpenText Finance Academy https://blogs.opentext.com/shaping-futures-through-the-opentext-finance-academy/ Mon, 07 Apr 2025 08:18:24 +0000 https://blogs.opentext.com/?p=999307898

Read part one of this three-part series: Cultivating Curiosity and Ambition to Reimagine Our Careers.

Part two: Shaping futures through the OpenText Finance Academy  

Through our partnerships with universities around the world, OpenText offers multiple graduate programs across departments, from engineering to finance – empowering the next generation to build and grow exciting careers in technology. 

The OpenText Finance Academy is one example. For university graduates in Canada and Romania, the academy includes a rotation program to give graduates insight into various areas of the finance department. Together with OpenText’s education allowance, the program helps graduates obtain their Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification and kickstart their careers.  

Since launching in 2019, over 80% of employees hired through the OpenText Finance Academy have since been promoted – and 30% of those employees are now in senior manager positions at OpenText.  

Madeha Malik, a senior revenue recognition analyst based in Canada, joined the OpenText Finance Academy in 2021, and used the OpenText education allowance to complete her studies. Madeha says OpenText gave her the opportunities to grow her career – fast. “Education can be expensive, but with an educational reimbursement program like OpenText’s, I was able to advance my career and obtain my CPA – all without the burden of tuition fees. The program covered the cost of my education, exams, and study materials required for the certification while providing me with an opportunity to gain a qualification that opened the doors for promotions.” 

Participating in the academy’s rotation program gave Courtney Tran, a senior auditor based in Canada, a chance to experience working in different finance departments. It was at that point she realized internal auditing was where she wanted to be. After completing her CPA, Courtney transferred roles and today works as a senior auditor in OpenText’s internal auditing team. “The opportunities I’ve received at OpenText, including the finance academy and its rotation program, plus the education reimbursement and support from my managers and peers, has kept me motivated and provided a solid foundation to launch my career,” said Courtney.   

Another OpenText Finance Academy alumni, Rodrigo Sanches, who works as a tax manager at OpenText’s Richmond Hill office in Canada, said the education opportunities at OpenText enabled him to obtain his CPA and advance in his role – having been promoted from a senior analyst to his current position. Rodrigo said: “The education allowance and the learning support at OpenText helped me achieve my CPA. These gave me the opportunity to continue learning in my field and grow my career.” 

The post Shaping futures through the OpenText Finance Academy appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>

Read part one of this three-part series: Cultivating Curiosity and Ambition to Reimagine Our Careers.

Part two: Shaping futures through the OpenText Finance Academy  

Through our partnerships with universities around the world, OpenText offers multiple graduate programs across departments, from engineering to finance – empowering the next generation to build and grow exciting careers in technology. 

The OpenText Finance Academy is one example. For university graduates in Canada and Romania, the academy includes a rotation program to give graduates insight into various areas of the finance department. Together with OpenText’s education allowance, the program helps graduates obtain their Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification and kickstart their careers.  

Since launching in 2019, over 80% of employees hired through the OpenText Finance Academy have since been promoted – and 30% of those employees are now in senior manager positions at OpenText.  

Madeha Malik, a senior revenue recognition analyst based in Canada, joined the OpenText Finance Academy in 2021, and used the OpenText education allowance to complete her studies. Madeha says OpenText gave her the opportunities to grow her career – fast. “Education can be expensive, but with an educational reimbursement program like OpenText’s, I was able to advance my career and obtain my CPA – all without the burden of tuition fees. The program covered the cost of my education, exams, and study materials required for the certification while providing me with an opportunity to gain a qualification that opened the doors for promotions.” 

Participating in the academy’s rotation program gave Courtney Tran, a senior auditor based in Canada, a chance to experience working in different finance departments. It was at that point she realized internal auditing was where she wanted to be. After completing her CPA, Courtney transferred roles and today works as a senior auditor in OpenText’s internal auditing team. “The opportunities I’ve received at OpenText, including the finance academy and its rotation program, plus the education reimbursement and support from my managers and peers, has kept me motivated and provided a solid foundation to launch my career,” said Courtney.   

Another OpenText Finance Academy alumni, Rodrigo Sanches, who works as a tax manager at OpenText’s Richmond Hill office in Canada, said the education opportunities at OpenText enabled him to obtain his CPA and advance in his role – having been promoted from a senior analyst to his current position. Rodrigo said: “The education allowance and the learning support at OpenText helped me achieve my CPA. These gave me the opportunity to continue learning in my field and grow my career.” 

The post Shaping futures through the OpenText Finance Academy appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>
Cultivating Curiosity and Ambition to Reimagine Our Careers https://blogs.opentext.com/cultivating-curiosity-and-ambition-to-reimagine-our-careers/ Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:01:03 +0000 https://blogs.opentext.com/?p=999307631

To thrive in the AI era, continuous learning is not just important—it’s essential. From software engineering to accounting, every aspect of how we work is transforming and staying ahead requires ongoing skill development and adaptability.  

At OpenText, we believe learning fuels innovation and growth, which is why we invest in continuous learning and professional development at every stage. Through our study programs, educational allowances, and professional development initiatives, we support OpenTexters to stay relevant by building the knowledge and skills to help them thrive in today’s fast evolving environment.  

OpenText Career Week powers professional development  

Our commitment to continuous learning and professional development is underpinned by OpenText Career Week – an annual flagship program dedicated to learning, growth, and empowerment for all employees. Each year, thousands of OpenTexters around the world come together in person and virtually to invest in their professional development and shape their career paths at OpenText.  

This year, more than 300 OpenTexters delivered over 30 engaging sessions that sparked ideas, encouraged career-focused conversations, and inspired employees across the organization to build their career development plans.  

Reflecting on his recent OpenText Career Week experience, Ashwin Ramesh Pattath, a Software Engineer based in India, said: "Wow, Career Week 2025 was absolutely amazing! The sessions were super insightful, and I loved connecting with colleagues from all over the world. Huge thanks to OpenText for empowering us to take charge of our career journeys! Can’t wait for next year!"  

OpenTexter, Maria Thomas, a product support specialist based in Canada, said the inspirational career stories shared during this year’s OpenText Career Week motivated her to pursue her career goals. “I loved the diverse sessions that covered a variety of topics, allowing us to explore different aspects of career development. Interactive workshops allowed me to apply what I learned in real-time. I also appreciated the personal growth focus in many of the sessions, helping me develop key skills.” 

The post Cultivating Curiosity and Ambition to Reimagine Our Careers appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>

To thrive in the AI era, continuous learning is not just important—it’s essential. From software engineering to accounting, every aspect of how we work is transforming and staying ahead requires ongoing skill development and adaptability.  

At OpenText, we believe learning fuels innovation and growth, which is why we invest in continuous learning and professional development at every stage. Through our study programs, educational allowances, and professional development initiatives, we support OpenTexters to stay relevant by building the knowledge and skills to help them thrive in today’s fast evolving environment.  

OpenText Career Week powers professional development  

Our commitment to continuous learning and professional development is underpinned by OpenText Career Week – an annual flagship program dedicated to learning, growth, and empowerment for all employees. Each year, thousands of OpenTexters around the world come together in person and virtually to invest in their professional development and shape their career paths at OpenText.  

This year, more than 300 OpenTexters delivered over 30 engaging sessions that sparked ideas, encouraged career-focused conversations, and inspired employees across the organization to build their career development plans.  

Reflecting on his recent OpenText Career Week experience, Ashwin Ramesh Pattath, a Software Engineer based in India, said: "Wow, Career Week 2025 was absolutely amazing! The sessions were super insightful, and I loved connecting with colleagues from all over the world. Huge thanks to OpenText for empowering us to take charge of our career journeys! Can’t wait for next year!"  

OpenTexter, Maria Thomas, a product support specialist based in Canada, said the inspirational career stories shared during this year’s OpenText Career Week motivated her to pursue her career goals. “I loved the diverse sessions that covered a variety of topics, allowing us to explore different aspects of career development. Interactive workshops allowed me to apply what I learned in real-time. I also appreciated the personal growth focus in many of the sessions, helping me develop key skills.” 

The post Cultivating Curiosity and Ambition to Reimagine Our Careers appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>
Balancing career and parenthood as a working mom  https://blogs.opentext.com/balancing-career-and-parenthood-as-a-working-mom/ Fri, 05 Jul 2024 12:46:53 +0000 https://blogs.opentext.com/?p=999275634

Balancing a thriving career with the demands of parenting is a challenge that many navigate with remarkable resilience and strength. Meet Deb James, Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition at OpenText, who embodies this balance.  As a dedicated professional and a loving mother to her young daughter, Deb expertly navigates the challenges of her dual roles with grace and determination. 

Deb, could you tell us about your career at OpenText? 

I started my journey with OpenText in 2019 as a Talent Acquisition Advisor in Waterloo, Canada, supporting Finance and IT hiring in the Americas region. Today, I manage our global recruitment marketing initiatives and our intern and new graduate hiring programs in Canada. 

As a working mom, what strategies have helped you to balance career and family life? 

For me, working around the chaotic expectations of being a working, single mother isn’t always roses. I am fortunate to have a supportive employer. OpenText has a trusting and flexible culture that allows me to be present for my vibrant and busy seven-year-old and deliver a high level of value in my role. Because of our hybrid work arrangement, I’m able to drop off and pick up my daughter from school. I can be close by if she is sick or needs me, which is important to me as a single parent.  

Another thing I love about OpenText is the vast network and support system of other incredible women in our WOW (Worldwide OpenText Women) Employee Network. This group has been a significant source of support in my journey as a working mom. Women from every walk of life are in this group, and it offers a safe space for open dialogue, where we can share professional advice, personal insights, and celebrate wins. I’ve connected with so many colleagues with similar experiences who understand the challenges I face, and I’ve been able to lean on colleagues for the invaluable wisdom and support that only fellow mothers can provide. 

How do you prioritize self-care while juggling the demands of parenthood? 

It can be challenging! But taking care of both my physical and mental health is essential. Prioritizing sleep has been a game changer for me. Maintaining a healthy diet and incorporating regular physical activity help boost my energy and make me an overall happier, more productive parent and employee. OpenText also offers fitness benefits, so a portion of our fitness, wellness programs or gym memberships can be reimbursed, so that’s been great too! 

I also had to work hard to establish clear boundaries around my free time and communicate my limits to colleagues and family members. It was difficult in the beginning, but I find it very necessary to not let my work life spill into my personal life and vice versa. 

Another practice I incorporate is setting realistic goals and celebrating accomplishments – no matter how small. I have also built a strong network of family, friends, and childcare services to share responsibilities with. I used to hesitate to ask for help when I need it, but now I make sure I do and always reciprocate when I can. It really does take a village!  

I also try to find joy in everyday moments. Whether it’s a walk in the park with my daughter after school, or a quiet cup of coffee before everyone wakes up, these moments can provide a quick recharge. 

Any last pieces of advice you would like to share with fellow working parents? 

Balancing work and parenting is challenging, and societal expectations can add even more pressure. I would tell other parents that it’s okay to question and challenge those societal norms that dictate how parents should balance work and family. Advocate for policies and practices that support working parents, such as parental leave and flexible work arrangements. And let’s celebrate diversity in parenting styles, because there is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. So, find what works best for your family.  

Lastly, I would encourage you to embrace imperfection. Society often paints a picture of the 'perfect' parent, but perfection is an unrealistic goal. Embrace the imperfections and understand that doing your best is what truly matters. 

Interested in joining Deb and becoming a part of Team OpenText? Check out our open roles on our Careers page today!

The post Balancing career and parenthood as a working mom  appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>

Balancing a thriving career with the demands of parenting is a challenge that many navigate with remarkable resilience and strength. Meet Deb James, Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition at OpenText, who embodies this balance.  As a dedicated professional and a loving mother to her young daughter, Deb expertly navigates the challenges of her dual roles with grace and determination. 

Deb, could you tell us about your career at OpenText? 

I started my journey with OpenText in 2019 as a Talent Acquisition Advisor in Waterloo, Canada, supporting Finance and IT hiring in the Americas region. Today, I manage our global recruitment marketing initiatives and our intern and new graduate hiring programs in Canada. 

As a working mom, what strategies have helped you to balance career and family life? 

For me, working around the chaotic expectations of being a working, single mother isn’t always roses. I am fortunate to have a supportive employer. OpenText has a trusting and flexible culture that allows me to be present for my vibrant and busy seven-year-old and deliver a high level of value in my role. Because of our hybrid work arrangement, I’m able to drop off and pick up my daughter from school. I can be close by if she is sick or needs me, which is important to me as a single parent.  

Another thing I love about OpenText is the vast network and support system of other incredible women in our WOW (Worldwide OpenText Women) Employee Network. This group has been a significant source of support in my journey as a working mom. Women from every walk of life are in this group, and it offers a safe space for open dialogue, where we can share professional advice, personal insights, and celebrate wins. I’ve connected with so many colleagues with similar experiences who understand the challenges I face, and I’ve been able to lean on colleagues for the invaluable wisdom and support that only fellow mothers can provide. 

How do you prioritize self-care while juggling the demands of parenthood? 

It can be challenging! But taking care of both my physical and mental health is essential. Prioritizing sleep has been a game changer for me. Maintaining a healthy diet and incorporating regular physical activity help boost my energy and make me an overall happier, more productive parent and employee. OpenText also offers fitness benefits, so a portion of our fitness, wellness programs or gym memberships can be reimbursed, so that’s been great too! 

I also had to work hard to establish clear boundaries around my free time and communicate my limits to colleagues and family members. It was difficult in the beginning, but I find it very necessary to not let my work life spill into my personal life and vice versa. 

Another practice I incorporate is setting realistic goals and celebrating accomplishments – no matter how small. I have also built a strong network of family, friends, and childcare services to share responsibilities with. I used to hesitate to ask for help when I need it, but now I make sure I do and always reciprocate when I can. It really does take a village!  

I also try to find joy in everyday moments. Whether it’s a walk in the park with my daughter after school, or a quiet cup of coffee before everyone wakes up, these moments can provide a quick recharge. 

Any last pieces of advice you would like to share with fellow working parents? 

Balancing work and parenting is challenging, and societal expectations can add even more pressure. I would tell other parents that it’s okay to question and challenge those societal norms that dictate how parents should balance work and family. Advocate for policies and practices that support working parents, such as parental leave and flexible work arrangements. And let’s celebrate diversity in parenting styles, because there is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. So, find what works best for your family.  

Lastly, I would encourage you to embrace imperfection. Society often paints a picture of the 'perfect' parent, but perfection is an unrealistic goal. Embrace the imperfections and understand that doing your best is what truly matters. 

Interested in joining Deb and becoming a part of Team OpenText? Check out our open roles on our Careers page today!

The post Balancing career and parenthood as a working mom  appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>
Sparking 25,000 Career Conversations https://blogs.opentext.com/sparking-25000-career-conversations/ Mon, 08 Apr 2024 15:34:40 +0000 https://blogs.opentext.com/?p=122776

"Careers — not jobs — are purposeful. You navigate the opportunities and obstacles along the way, and you almost never move in a straight line.” — Mark J. Barrenechea, CEO & CTO

This quote comes from Mark Barrenechea’s recently published book Versant: Decoding the OpenVerse. Regardless of where you are in your career journey, different opportunities and obstacles will inevitably present themselves. It’s up to you to decide whether to seize those opportunities and how to navigate the challenges ahead, all while possessing a growth mindset.

Empowering OpenTexters in their unique career journeys

In early March, OpenText held Career Week, one of our most highly anticipated annual employee events. This is a time where OpenTexters around the globe are invited to reflect on their career paths and spark thoughtful discussions about their professional development. The week-long event is filled with a variety of in-person sessions and virtual presentations across our five geographic regions. From tips on how to craft a strong professional brand, to listening to colleagues from around the world share their own unique career journeys, there is something for everyone!

This year’s Career Week had one central goal: to ensure each one of our 25,000 OpenTexters around the world had meaningful career conversations. As a company, career reflections and conversations are essential to our overall employee experience, and while these discussions take place throughout the year, Career Week presents a unique opportunity to bring our entire workforce together around a shared vision, while thinking about futures unique to the individual.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fun fact: Career Week initially started out as Career Day.
Due to its popularity, since 2022 OpenText has expanded it to a full week!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Career insights from our leaders

In one of our discussion panels, one of our regional sales leaders shared insights about the benefits of developing a solid career development plan:

“We spend a lot of time diving into our work, and sometimes our career plan gets a bit lost in terms of where we want to be a few years into our career. Having that career discussion with your manager, mapping out the steps, and rationalizing what your career aspirations are is key for working towards them. So, I think a career plan is critical.”Jeffrey Neo, Regional Vice President, Southeast Asia

Another senior leader in the panel shared how to encourage teams to take time to develop a career development plan:

“I always encourage my team to complete their individual development plans, as it is about them! It’s about prioritizing and thinking about how they can be better each day. What are the skills that are going to enhance them today to work their best? Or, what are the gaps in their skills to get them to that next level, while they are working on everything else? This is all about building their personal brand within the company for whatever may come along.”Tanya Lord, Director, Customer Success

Not only is career development important for our employees, it is also valued by our leaders and management.

International Women’s Day panel: Inspiring inclusion in the workplace

The final day of Career Week fell on International Women’s Day (IWD), and we invited the entire company to join special virtual sessions that kicked off a month-long series of IWD celebrations across OpenText. The sessions were facilitated by our very own Vice President of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Yvonne Thomson, who was joined by a panel of amazing women sharing their thoughts on how to inspire inclusion in the workplace.

Below are some thoughtful takeaways from some of our panelists:

“What my manager does to inspire inclusion may seem so simple, but it makes a big difference. During every team meeting, he gives everybody an opportunity to speak. He goes around the room and asks every single person: ‘Do you have anything you would like to say or add?’”  — Yekaterina O’Neil, Distinguished Technologist & Principal Security Researcher

“The leaders at OpenText are really quite special. From onboarding onwards, there is a deep sense of belonging that is instilled within us that I believe is really important. I don’t think I would have been able to deliver on the projects that I did within my first few months as an OpenTexter without having the support of the leaders within the organization.” — Harriet Tobin, Enablement Program Manager

Open your path at OpenText

As the curtains closed on our week-long event, we were delighted with the positive feedback we received! Here are just a couple comments from OpenTexters:

“OpenText making time for Career Week for all employees speaks volumes on the company's commitment to our career development.”

“It was wonderful to hear about different career journeys. I liked the diversity of topics and hearing from different areas of the business.”

OpenText has a wide array of resources to support career planning and continual dialogue, so our employees can feel well-equipped and empowered to take the next step in their career, right here at OpenText. We have a high-performance learning culture. No matter what your role is, there are always opportunities for growth.

Curious to learn more about us and the career opportunities that are available? Visit our Careers page today! Your next career step may be just around the corner.

The post Sparking 25,000 Career Conversations appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>

"Careers — not jobs — are purposeful. You navigate the opportunities and obstacles along the way, and you almost never move in a straight line.” — Mark J. Barrenechea, CEO & CTO

This quote comes from Mark Barrenechea’s recently published book Versant: Decoding the OpenVerse. Regardless of where you are in your career journey, different opportunities and obstacles will inevitably present themselves. It’s up to you to decide whether to seize those opportunities and how to navigate the challenges ahead, all while possessing a growth mindset.

Empowering OpenTexters in their unique career journeys

In early March, OpenText held Career Week, one of our most highly anticipated annual employee events. This is a time where OpenTexters around the globe are invited to reflect on their career paths and spark thoughtful discussions about their professional development. The week-long event is filled with a variety of in-person sessions and virtual presentations across our five geographic regions. From tips on how to craft a strong professional brand, to listening to colleagues from around the world share their own unique career journeys, there is something for everyone!

This year’s Career Week had one central goal: to ensure each one of our 25,000 OpenTexters around the world had meaningful career conversations. As a company, career reflections and conversations are essential to our overall employee experience, and while these discussions take place throughout the year, Career Week presents a unique opportunity to bring our entire workforce together around a shared vision, while thinking about futures unique to the individual.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fun fact: Career Week initially started out as Career Day.
Due to its popularity, since 2022 OpenText has expanded it to a full week!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Career insights from our leaders

In one of our discussion panels, one of our regional sales leaders shared insights about the benefits of developing a solid career development plan:

“We spend a lot of time diving into our work, and sometimes our career plan gets a bit lost in terms of where we want to be a few years into our career. Having that career discussion with your manager, mapping out the steps, and rationalizing what your career aspirations are is key for working towards them. So, I think a career plan is critical.”Jeffrey Neo, Regional Vice President, Southeast Asia

Another senior leader in the panel shared how to encourage teams to take time to develop a career development plan:

“I always encourage my team to complete their individual development plans, as it is about them! It’s about prioritizing and thinking about how they can be better each day. What are the skills that are going to enhance them today to work their best? Or, what are the gaps in their skills to get them to that next level, while they are working on everything else? This is all about building their personal brand within the company for whatever may come along.”Tanya Lord, Director, Customer Success

Not only is career development important for our employees, it is also valued by our leaders and management.

International Women’s Day panel: Inspiring inclusion in the workplace

The final day of Career Week fell on International Women’s Day (IWD), and we invited the entire company to join special virtual sessions that kicked off a month-long series of IWD celebrations across OpenText. The sessions were facilitated by our very own Vice President of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Yvonne Thomson, who was joined by a panel of amazing women sharing their thoughts on how to inspire inclusion in the workplace.

Below are some thoughtful takeaways from some of our panelists:

“What my manager does to inspire inclusion may seem so simple, but it makes a big difference. During every team meeting, he gives everybody an opportunity to speak. He goes around the room and asks every single person: ‘Do you have anything you would like to say or add?’”  — Yekaterina O’Neil, Distinguished Technologist & Principal Security Researcher

“The leaders at OpenText are really quite special. From onboarding onwards, there is a deep sense of belonging that is instilled within us that I believe is really important. I don’t think I would have been able to deliver on the projects that I did within my first few months as an OpenTexter without having the support of the leaders within the organization.” — Harriet Tobin, Enablement Program Manager

Open your path at OpenText

As the curtains closed on our week-long event, we were delighted with the positive feedback we received! Here are just a couple comments from OpenTexters:

“OpenText making time for Career Week for all employees speaks volumes on the company's commitment to our career development.”

“It was wonderful to hear about different career journeys. I liked the diversity of topics and hearing from different areas of the business.”

OpenText has a wide array of resources to support career planning and continual dialogue, so our employees can feel well-equipped and empowered to take the next step in their career, right here at OpenText. We have a high-performance learning culture. No matter what your role is, there are always opportunities for growth.

Curious to learn more about us and the career opportunities that are available? Visit our Careers page today! Your next career step may be just around the corner.

The post Sparking 25,000 Career Conversations appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>
Honoring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at OpenText https://blogs.opentext.com/honoring-the-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation-2023-at-opentext/ Tue, 31 Oct 2023 17:18:38 +0000 https://blogs.opentext.com/?p=74877

Last month, OpenText joined millions of Canadians in recognizing the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honor the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children who never returned home from Residential Schools in Canada, and the impact on their families, their communities, and the Survivors. As a Canadian-founded and headquartered company, we are committed to understanding Canada’s history with Indigenous Peoples, and taking action to foster healing, reconciliation, and a more inclusive and just future.

One of the best ways we can support Indigenous Peoples is to educate ourselves. We know that reconciliation is a verb — it requires meaningful and sustained action for any chance of success. Over the past two years, OpenText has taken many steps to listen, learn, and act.

Equal access equals opportunity. We are striving for Zero Barriers, and now, we have aligned our goals with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. OpenText is committed to elevating Indigenous employees and communities by reducing inequalities by way of job creation for Indigenous students, ensuring good health and well-being through strategic partnerships, and supporting quality education. These areas of focus are something we can all get behind at OpenText — from how we work and make business decisions, to how we engage our employees and recruit for new talent.

Elevating Indigenous communities through job creation

One of the most impactful actions we can take as a company is to create jobs. Following our commitment to partner with Lakehead University to create pathways to digital jobs for Indigenous students, we have welcomed our first two cohorts for summer placements, bringing unique skills and perspectives to our organization that have made us stronger. This year, we expanded our OpenText Navigator Internship program to welcome Indigenous student interns from the University of Waterloo starting in summer 2024, and we’ve already started recruiting for some positions.

Student intern at a recruitment booth for the OpenText Navigator Internship program.

Student intern Sheanna Bannon at a recruitment event for the OpenText Navigator Internship program.

Partnering with foundations that support well-being

We’re committed to elevating Indigenous communities through strategic and thoughtful partnerships with organizations focused on good health and well-being. The Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation empowers the next generation of youths in over 140 Indigenous communities with a focus on health, education, arts and culture, and recreation and sports. We believe strongly in their vision for the future and are honored to support their mission with a $10,000 donation.

The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) educates Canadians to build empathy and understanding of the impacts that generations of Indigenous Peoples experienced while in the Residential School System and to address ongoing racism and discrimination. LHF concurrently works to support ongoing healing for Survivors and their families. This aligns closely with our purpose, and we are pleased to donate $10,000 to their cause again this year. We also unveiled a special art installation featuring Peter Henderson Bryce at our Waterloo headquarters, courtesy of LHF. Henderson Bryce was a Canadian physician and public health official remembered for his efforts to advise the Canadian government of the health and living conditions of Indigenous Peoples within Residential Schools, and his calls for reform. As part of this display, employees shared their messages of hope for Indigenous communities across Canada. Both foundations have generously offered their time and expertise to educate OpenTexters, and we are fortunate to have such dedicated partners in our learning journey.

Part of the Legacy of Hope Foundation exhibition at OpenText headquarters in Waterloo, Ontario.

Part of the Legacy of Hope Foundation exhibition at OpenText headquarters in Waterloo, Ontario.

Raising awareness of Indigenous issues — and hope for the future

Michael Acedo, OpenText’s EVP and Chief Legal Officer, and the Executive Sponsor of our Indigenous & Allies Employee Network, took this opportunity to host an extremely moving and impactful panel discussion with Teresa Edwards, Executive Director of the Legacy of Hope Foundation and Yvonne Jamieson, Executive Director of the Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation.

With hundreds of employees in attendance at our Waterloo headquarters, and a livestream to thousands of OpenTexters around the world, Teresa and Yvonne discussed the conditions of Residential Schools, the Sixties Scoop, and the enduring impact it had on communities.  “We must educate each other, even if that is one person at a time,” said Yvonne Jamieson. “I hope that everyone here today goes back home and tells even one person what they learned. That will be a step forward in the right direction.


“We must educate each other, even if that is one person at a time. I hope that everyone goes back home and tells even one person what they learned. That will be a step forward in the right direction.”

YVONNE JAMIESON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DREAMCATCHER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION


It was not easy to hear about the atrocities that took place against Indigenous Peoples. It is also difficult to understand how this mistreatment could happen in Canada during our lifetime. However, both Teresa and Yvonne shared their optimism for the future. “It’s like Canadians have woken up,” said Teresa. “The outpouring of people willing to share information, putting up exhibitions in schools, at the pharmacy, at the mall, that goes a long way.” There is more media coverage about Indigenous truths, and new ways to learn about Indigenous history. Indigenous traditions, such as languages and food sovereignty are being revitalized, helping Indigenous Peoples to restore unity, belonging, and pride.

There is also hope for new generation of youth who did not attend Residential Schools, where the cycle of abuse has been broken. “So many great things are happening,” said Teresa, “and our children are going to know a whole new life than anything we’ve lived, our parents lived, and our families lived.” 

At OpenText, we are committed to being a part of that new life.

Teresa Edwards (left), Executive Director of the Legacy of Hope Foundation, and Yvonne Jamieson from the Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation discussed the impacts of Canada’s residential school system on seven generations of Indigenous Peoples at an OpenText employee event in Waterloo, Ontario.

Teresa Edwards (left), Executive Director, Legacy of Hope Foundation, and Yvonne Jamieson, Executive Director, Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation, discussed the impacts of Canada’s Residential School System on seven generations of Indigenous Peoples at an OpenText employee event in Waterloo, Ontario.

The post Honoring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at OpenText appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>

Last month, OpenText joined millions of Canadians in recognizing the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honor the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children who never returned home from Residential Schools in Canada, and the impact on their families, their communities, and the Survivors. As a Canadian-founded and headquartered company, we are committed to understanding Canada’s history with Indigenous Peoples, and taking action to foster healing, reconciliation, and a more inclusive and just future.

One of the best ways we can support Indigenous Peoples is to educate ourselves. We know that reconciliation is a verb — it requires meaningful and sustained action for any chance of success. Over the past two years, OpenText has taken many steps to listen, learn, and act.

Equal access equals opportunity. We are striving for Zero Barriers, and now, we have aligned our goals with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. OpenText is committed to elevating Indigenous employees and communities by reducing inequalities by way of job creation for Indigenous students, ensuring good health and well-being through strategic partnerships, and supporting quality education. These areas of focus are something we can all get behind at OpenText — from how we work and make business decisions, to how we engage our employees and recruit for new talent.

Elevating Indigenous communities through job creation

One of the most impactful actions we can take as a company is to create jobs. Following our commitment to partner with Lakehead University to create pathways to digital jobs for Indigenous students, we have welcomed our first two cohorts for summer placements, bringing unique skills and perspectives to our organization that have made us stronger. This year, we expanded our OpenText Navigator Internship program to welcome Indigenous student interns from the University of Waterloo starting in summer 2024, and we’ve already started recruiting for some positions.

Student intern at a recruitment booth for the OpenText Navigator Internship program.

Student intern Sheanna Bannon at a recruitment event for the OpenText Navigator Internship program.

Partnering with foundations that support well-being

We’re committed to elevating Indigenous communities through strategic and thoughtful partnerships with organizations focused on good health and well-being. The Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation empowers the next generation of youths in over 140 Indigenous communities with a focus on health, education, arts and culture, and recreation and sports. We believe strongly in their vision for the future and are honored to support their mission with a $10,000 donation.

The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) educates Canadians to build empathy and understanding of the impacts that generations of Indigenous Peoples experienced while in the Residential School System and to address ongoing racism and discrimination. LHF concurrently works to support ongoing healing for Survivors and their families. This aligns closely with our purpose, and we are pleased to donate $10,000 to their cause again this year. We also unveiled a special art installation featuring Peter Henderson Bryce at our Waterloo headquarters, courtesy of LHF. Henderson Bryce was a Canadian physician and public health official remembered for his efforts to advise the Canadian government of the health and living conditions of Indigenous Peoples within Residential Schools, and his calls for reform. As part of this display, employees shared their messages of hope for Indigenous communities across Canada. Both foundations have generously offered their time and expertise to educate OpenTexters, and we are fortunate to have such dedicated partners in our learning journey.

Part of the Legacy of Hope Foundation exhibition at OpenText headquarters in Waterloo, Ontario.

Part of the Legacy of Hope Foundation exhibition at OpenText headquarters in Waterloo, Ontario.

Raising awareness of Indigenous issues — and hope for the future

Michael Acedo, OpenText’s EVP and Chief Legal Officer, and the Executive Sponsor of our Indigenous & Allies Employee Network, took this opportunity to host an extremely moving and impactful panel discussion with Teresa Edwards, Executive Director of the Legacy of Hope Foundation and Yvonne Jamieson, Executive Director of the Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation.

With hundreds of employees in attendance at our Waterloo headquarters, and a livestream to thousands of OpenTexters around the world, Teresa and Yvonne discussed the conditions of Residential Schools, the Sixties Scoop, and the enduring impact it had on communities.  “We must educate each other, even if that is one person at a time,” said Yvonne Jamieson. “I hope that everyone here today goes back home and tells even one person what they learned. That will be a step forward in the right direction.


“We must educate each other, even if that is one person at a time. I hope that everyone goes back home and tells even one person what they learned. That will be a step forward in the right direction.”

YVONNE JAMIESON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DREAMCATCHER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION


It was not easy to hear about the atrocities that took place against Indigenous Peoples. It is also difficult to understand how this mistreatment could happen in Canada during our lifetime. However, both Teresa and Yvonne shared their optimism for the future. “It’s like Canadians have woken up,” said Teresa. “The outpouring of people willing to share information, putting up exhibitions in schools, at the pharmacy, at the mall, that goes a long way.” There is more media coverage about Indigenous truths, and new ways to learn about Indigenous history. Indigenous traditions, such as languages and food sovereignty are being revitalized, helping Indigenous Peoples to restore unity, belonging, and pride.

There is also hope for new generation of youth who did not attend Residential Schools, where the cycle of abuse has been broken. “So many great things are happening,” said Teresa, “and our children are going to know a whole new life than anything we’ve lived, our parents lived, and our families lived.” 

At OpenText, we are committed to being a part of that new life.

Teresa Edwards (left), Executive Director of the Legacy of Hope Foundation, and Yvonne Jamieson from the Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation discussed the impacts of Canada’s residential school system on seven generations of Indigenous Peoples at an OpenText employee event in Waterloo, Ontario.

Teresa Edwards (left), Executive Director, Legacy of Hope Foundation, and Yvonne Jamieson, Executive Director, Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation, discussed the impacts of Canada’s Residential School System on seven generations of Indigenous Peoples at an OpenText employee event in Waterloo, Ontario.

The post Honoring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at OpenText appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>
Lights, Camera, AMC Action! https://blogs.opentext.com/lights-camera-amc-action/ Mon, 30 Jan 2023 15:00:39 +0000 https://otmfblog.wpengine.com/?p=103589

This year the AMC Product Group have been delighted to welcome 15 new candidates onto the FY22 Application Modernisation and Connectivity (AMC) Engineering Graduate Programme.  With intakes in both July and October, the successful candidates beat off the competition for the opportunity to join an intensive (but enjoyable!) training programme, to help kick start their careers and make their mark at Micro Focus.

From a variety of academic backgrounds, the grads came together to learn COBOL in their first month, a new coding language for all of them and a valuable skill to begin their careers with.  Thomas Hutchins, Mark Christie, Ted John, and Ben Read, who, at different stages over the last 8 years, have all been through the graduate scheme themselves, helped the grads learn the language and follow the initial 4-week introductory programme led by Thomas.  It was brilliant to be able to see this come full circle, and some of our original grads now mentoring up and coming talent.

Something that really stood out throughout the feedback was the uniqueness of some of the rotations and how we manage the programme. After the Graduates have had their 4 week training plan, they then move on to an in depth introduction to our specialised Development teams! There they are working alongside some amazingly talented colleagues, learning and absorbing information! This really does foster an environment of collaborative culture and really sets our graduates up for success!

This month the October intake are nearing the end of the second phase of training, spending time with each development team and learning about the various technologies they work on, before joining their final team placements in the New Year.

Receiving this great feedback about the training scheme coincided nicely with the work that Sarah Martin and Kerry Barrett from Talent Acquisition (TA) are focusing on with the Branding and Marketing Teams. Together they are updating the MF Career pages and generating new career content, alongside their new Make Your Mark Campaign.

Willing volunteers gathered in the Newbury office last week to help create videos to share their thoughts on the scheme and the culture, and to give prospective candidates an insight into what life is like at Micro Focus. (You can see the fruits of their hard work here and here.)

Sarah commented “There were a lot of laughs, interruptions and scrambling of words, but we got there eventually. With the graduates using language such as, “rewarding”, “insightful”, “supportive”, and most importantly “fun”, to describe their experience in the programme, it is sure to say that they’ve all had a blast!”

The graduates have not only grown in their professional journeys, but have also developed themselves personally, speaking about how they are making impacts within the company and being empowered to make important decisions within their key business areas. A few also explained how they feel they have been making their mark through getting involved with other graduate intakes and being able to collaborate and share their knowledge!

t is safe to say that the 2022 intake are not just work colleagues but have been given the opportunity with the graduate programme, to become a tight knit bunch of friends as well. With one of the graduates even commenting on how they feel they have become a little family unit, helping, and supporting each other along the way.

We’re delighted that all our graduates, both past and present, chose Micro Focus to begin their careers and we look forward to seeing their names ‘in lights’ on the revamped career pages very soon. The AMC team are beginning their search for graduate software developers to join our 2023 intake.

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the next programme, please be sure to keep an eye on our Career Website, you can also sign up for job notifications for graduate and intern positions. We look forward to seeing your applications in the system!

The post Lights, Camera, AMC Action! appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>

This year the AMC Product Group have been delighted to welcome 15 new candidates onto the FY22 Application Modernisation and Connectivity (AMC) Engineering Graduate Programme.  With intakes in both July and October, the successful candidates beat off the competition for the opportunity to join an intensive (but enjoyable!) training programme, to help kick start their careers and make their mark at Micro Focus.

From a variety of academic backgrounds, the grads came together to learn COBOL in their first month, a new coding language for all of them and a valuable skill to begin their careers with.  Thomas Hutchins, Mark Christie, Ted John, and Ben Read, who, at different stages over the last 8 years, have all been through the graduate scheme themselves, helped the grads learn the language and follow the initial 4-week introductory programme led by Thomas.  It was brilliant to be able to see this come full circle, and some of our original grads now mentoring up and coming talent.

Something that really stood out throughout the feedback was the uniqueness of some of the rotations and how we manage the programme. After the Graduates have had their 4 week training plan, they then move on to an in depth introduction to our specialised Development teams! There they are working alongside some amazingly talented colleagues, learning and absorbing information! This really does foster an environment of collaborative culture and really sets our graduates up for success!

This month the October intake are nearing the end of the second phase of training, spending time with each development team and learning about the various technologies they work on, before joining their final team placements in the New Year.

Receiving this great feedback about the training scheme coincided nicely with the work that Sarah Martin and Kerry Barrett from Talent Acquisition (TA) are focusing on with the Branding and Marketing Teams. Together they are updating the MF Career pages and generating new career content, alongside their new Make Your Mark Campaign.

Willing volunteers gathered in the Newbury office last week to help create videos to share their thoughts on the scheme and the culture, and to give prospective candidates an insight into what life is like at Micro Focus. (You can see the fruits of their hard work here and here.)

Sarah commented “There were a lot of laughs, interruptions and scrambling of words, but we got there eventually. With the graduates using language such as, “rewarding”, “insightful”, “supportive”, and most importantly “fun”, to describe their experience in the programme, it is sure to say that they’ve all had a blast!”

The graduates have not only grown in their professional journeys, but have also developed themselves personally, speaking about how they are making impacts within the company and being empowered to make important decisions within their key business areas. A few also explained how they feel they have been making their mark through getting involved with other graduate intakes and being able to collaborate and share their knowledge!

t is safe to say that the 2022 intake are not just work colleagues but have been given the opportunity with the graduate programme, to become a tight knit bunch of friends as well. With one of the graduates even commenting on how they feel they have become a little family unit, helping, and supporting each other along the way.

We’re delighted that all our graduates, both past and present, chose Micro Focus to begin their careers and we look forward to seeing their names ‘in lights’ on the revamped career pages very soon. The AMC team are beginning their search for graduate software developers to join our 2023 intake.

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the next programme, please be sure to keep an eye on our Career Website, you can also sign up for job notifications for graduate and intern positions. We look forward to seeing your applications in the system!

The post Lights, Camera, AMC Action! appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>
Meet Janet Greathouse – Learning Program Manager, Plano, USA https://blogs.opentext.com/meet-janet-greathouse-learning-program-manager-plano-usa/ Wed, 18 Jan 2023 18:57:53 +0000 https://otmfblog.wpengine.com/?p=104421 QR code and smartphone, new technologies. Electronic digital technologies scanning, barcode

Software, from vision to execution, is a people business – and our people are our greatest asset. Helping our employees build exciting and enriching careers is a key priority. We work hard to unlock the individual potential and collective capability of our workforce by investing in development opportunities, so that everyone has the freedom to carve out the career they want. For some, this means undertaking additional training. For others, it’s switching career paths entirely within the business.

Janet Greathouse, a Learning Program Manager in Plano USA, started her career at Micro Focus in the engineering teams and then pivoted to a very different area of the business – a specialised HR role in Learning and Development. Below, Janet shares her experience moving from one department to another to grow her professional career.

To start off, tell us a bit about yourself, Janet.

Originally a California native, I currently live and work in Texas. I’m involved in local civics and literacy programs and spend my free time bicycling, kayaking, and traveling with my family to interesting places where we can bicycle, kayak, and scuba. I’m the proud mom of two amazing young adults who are already doing their part to help make the world a better place.

Tell us about your career journey.

I joined as part of the HPE acquisition in 2019. Before that, I joined HP/HPE as part of the Convex Computer Company acquisition.

At Convex and then HP and HPE, I was a technical writer and spent a few years as manager and editor of a leading-edge technical writing team. Eventually, I moved into HR/Learning & Development as a learning program manager, overseeing a portfolio of technology learning solutions for software development business units across HP and HPE. Today, I’m a learning program manager for ITOM, CTO, and PSec. In addition, I have cross-Product Group responsibilities focused on employee communications and promoting learning opportunities and resources across our software development communities. 

Can you tell us more about your transition from HR to Engineering?

As a technical writer, I started my career embedded in our software and hardware engineering organizations and moved into Learning & Development over time. Moving into an L&D role was a natural progression from technical writing and initially resulted from organizational changes due to company acquisitions, which can open up all kinds of new opportunities for employees. 

At HP, HPE, and then Micro Focus, I’ve been fortunate to work with inspired people managers who have supported my career changes. They’ve helped me evolve into new roles and take on new responsibilities. Working with managers in this way is a partnership and my advice to employees is to initiate these sorts of conversations with your manager, rather than relying on them to guide you.

After several years in L&D at HPE, I moved back into engineering continuing to focus on skills development for our software development organizations and on building a culture of continuous learning.

What advice can you give others in terms of driving and owning their career success?

  1. Proactively manage your career, rather than waiting for changes to happen on their own.
  2. Be open to ideas and challenges you’re not expecting. Say Yes!
  3. Augment your primary role with other interesting work. Get involved with your site’s culture activities, join an Employee Network, shadow someone whose role is different from your own. In these ways, you expand what’s possible for yourself.
  4. Find someone who is better at your job than you are and observe what makes them successful. I’ve learned so much this way!

Anything else you want to say about career development opportunities you have experienced?

Most fundamental to managing our careers, I think, is to find ways to do work that’s aligned with our values. In my case, it’s always been important to work closely with developers and to support my colleagues. Whether that’s helping them learn new skills (as learning program manager), navigate organizational change (through management of change), share their work with customers (as technical writer), or understand what’s happening around them (through employee communications), I’ve always sought roles that are supportive and enabling to my R&D colleagues, so they can succeed and really flourish throughout their careers. It brings me joy.

How do you feel you make your mark?

Highly skilled workforces are powerful. I believe that the work I’ve done over the years to build our skills capacity (at organizational and individual levels) has enabled us to innovate, to build, and to deliver meaningful products,which in turn has allowed our customers to do the same. I feel that the technologies developed by the colleagues I’ve collaborated with have helped make the world a better place, because our technologies cascade into a myriad of improvements and progress that matter to people and societies across the globe. Knowing that I had a tiny part in that casts my career in a happy light.

The post Meet Janet Greathouse – Learning Program Manager, Plano, USA appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>
QR code and smartphone, new technologies. Electronic digital technologies scanning, barcode

Software, from vision to execution, is a people business – and our people are our greatest asset. Helping our employees build exciting and enriching careers is a key priority. We work hard to unlock the individual potential and collective capability of our workforce by investing in development opportunities, so that everyone has the freedom to carve out the career they want. For some, this means undertaking additional training. For others, it’s switching career paths entirely within the business.

Janet Greathouse, a Learning Program Manager in Plano USA, started her career at Micro Focus in the engineering teams and then pivoted to a very different area of the business – a specialised HR role in Learning and Development. Below, Janet shares her experience moving from one department to another to grow her professional career.

To start off, tell us a bit about yourself, Janet.

Originally a California native, I currently live and work in Texas. I’m involved in local civics and literacy programs and spend my free time bicycling, kayaking, and traveling with my family to interesting places where we can bicycle, kayak, and scuba. I’m the proud mom of two amazing young adults who are already doing their part to help make the world a better place.

Tell us about your career journey.

I joined as part of the HPE acquisition in 2019. Before that, I joined HP/HPE as part of the Convex Computer Company acquisition.

At Convex and then HP and HPE, I was a technical writer and spent a few years as manager and editor of a leading-edge technical writing team. Eventually, I moved into HR/Learning & Development as a learning program manager, overseeing a portfolio of technology learning solutions for software development business units across HP and HPE. Today, I’m a learning program manager for ITOM, CTO, and PSec. In addition, I have cross-Product Group responsibilities focused on employee communications and promoting learning opportunities and resources across our software development communities. 

Can you tell us more about your transition from HR to Engineering?

As a technical writer, I started my career embedded in our software and hardware engineering organizations and moved into Learning & Development over time. Moving into an L&D role was a natural progression from technical writing and initially resulted from organizational changes due to company acquisitions, which can open up all kinds of new opportunities for employees. 

At HP, HPE, and then Micro Focus, I’ve been fortunate to work with inspired people managers who have supported my career changes. They’ve helped me evolve into new roles and take on new responsibilities. Working with managers in this way is a partnership and my advice to employees is to initiate these sorts of conversations with your manager, rather than relying on them to guide you.

After several years in L&D at HPE, I moved back into engineering continuing to focus on skills development for our software development organizations and on building a culture of continuous learning.

What advice can you give others in terms of driving and owning their career success?

  1. Proactively manage your career, rather than waiting for changes to happen on their own.
  2. Be open to ideas and challenges you’re not expecting. Say Yes!
  3. Augment your primary role with other interesting work. Get involved with your site’s culture activities, join an Employee Network, shadow someone whose role is different from your own. In these ways, you expand what’s possible for yourself.
  4. Find someone who is better at your job than you are and observe what makes them successful. I’ve learned so much this way!

Anything else you want to say about career development opportunities you have experienced?

Most fundamental to managing our careers, I think, is to find ways to do work that’s aligned with our values. In my case, it’s always been important to work closely with developers and to support my colleagues. Whether that’s helping them learn new skills (as learning program manager), navigate organizational change (through management of change), share their work with customers (as technical writer), or understand what’s happening around them (through employee communications), I’ve always sought roles that are supportive and enabling to my R&D colleagues, so they can succeed and really flourish throughout their careers. It brings me joy.

How do you feel you make your mark?

Highly skilled workforces are powerful. I believe that the work I’ve done over the years to build our skills capacity (at organizational and individual levels) has enabled us to innovate, to build, and to deliver meaningful products,which in turn has allowed our customers to do the same. I feel that the technologies developed by the colleagues I’ve collaborated with have helped make the world a better place, because our technologies cascade into a myriad of improvements and progress that matter to people and societies across the globe. Knowing that I had a tiny part in that casts my career in a happy light.

The post Meet Janet Greathouse – Learning Program Manager, Plano, USA appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>
OPEN your path at OpenText https://blogs.opentext.com/open-your-path-at-opentext/ Tue, 17 Jan 2023 14:25:00 +0000 https://blogs.opentext.com/?p=68541 Open your path

Best brands are built from within. It is not a campaign, it is not a logo – it is the external expression of internal ways of working. You can call this culture, but at OpenText, we call it our distinct DNA, which for us means having character. We are a growth company, and here to make and move markets. We are innovators and builders (vs. consumers) and our mission is to bring the future forward with technology. And lastly, we are an impact company. We don’t back down on what we believe in – that diversity and inclusion is an essential part of innovation – and we elevate everyone to be better. These are the principles of who we are.   

We are a company with character

Every company has a culture, but few have character like we do. At OpenText, we’re like gamers – endlessly curious with a desire to crack the code. We are people who want to solve the next big business problem ahead of the company across the street, by being inquisitive and creative and trying new things. We have a mentality of being gritty with a relentless focus on our goals, while still showing gratitude and grace.

We are everywhere

The world’s most trusted brands trust OpenText. Our customers know us intimately and trust us with their most sensitive data and transactions. For over 30 years, we have been bringing information and automation together behind the scenes to help people work smarter. Daily life continues uninterrupted for hundreds of millions of people who rely on OpenText solutions that power the global top 100. From helping retailers put products on store shelves to moving aircrafts around the world, what we do matters. Everywhere you look, OpenText is powering and protecting information, and elevating every person and every organization to be their best.

We are a part of something bigger

There are many forces driving a new tech world order – businesses are reinventing themselves, there are new ways of working, new expectations – and OpenText will be the foundational technology that powers the future. We see possibilities, not liabilities, and we believe that technology can save the world.

Brilliant ideas can come from anywhere, and that’s why everyone has a seat at the table at OpenText. We trust that every employee knows their work, has the skills to succeed, and has great ideas to bring to our projects. Our people explore their careers in their own unique way, so long as our eyes are fixed on the goal. We care deeply about making positive changes for the businesses we work with and the communities we live in, and recognize that we are part of something bigger.

Open your path at OpenText

Are you ready to open doors to limitless opportunity and adventure? To cultures and experiences from every corner of the world? Do you have the heart? If this resonates with you, check out our website to explore our opportunities and find out if OpenText is the right place for you.

For even more insights, read Versant: Decoding the OpenVerseTM, written by OpenText CEO & CTO Mark J. Barrenechea. This book explores our culture in more depth, and our vision for how our technologies will power our future world.

The post OPEN your path at OpenText appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>
Open your path

Best brands are built from within. It is not a campaign, it is not a logo – it is the external expression of internal ways of working. You can call this culture, but at OpenText, we call it our distinct DNA, which for us means having character. We are a growth company, and here to make and move markets. We are innovators and builders (vs. consumers) and our mission is to bring the future forward with technology. And lastly, we are an impact company. We don’t back down on what we believe in – that diversity and inclusion is an essential part of innovation – and we elevate everyone to be better. These are the principles of who we are.   

We are a company with character

Every company has a culture, but few have character like we do. At OpenText, we’re like gamers – endlessly curious with a desire to crack the code. We are people who want to solve the next big business problem ahead of the company across the street, by being inquisitive and creative and trying new things. We have a mentality of being gritty with a relentless focus on our goals, while still showing gratitude and grace.

We are everywhere

The world’s most trusted brands trust OpenText. Our customers know us intimately and trust us with their most sensitive data and transactions. For over 30 years, we have been bringing information and automation together behind the scenes to help people work smarter. Daily life continues uninterrupted for hundreds of millions of people who rely on OpenText solutions that power the global top 100. From helping retailers put products on store shelves to moving aircrafts around the world, what we do matters. Everywhere you look, OpenText is powering and protecting information, and elevating every person and every organization to be their best.

We are a part of something bigger

There are many forces driving a new tech world order – businesses are reinventing themselves, there are new ways of working, new expectations – and OpenText will be the foundational technology that powers the future. We see possibilities, not liabilities, and we believe that technology can save the world.

Brilliant ideas can come from anywhere, and that’s why everyone has a seat at the table at OpenText. We trust that every employee knows their work, has the skills to succeed, and has great ideas to bring to our projects. Our people explore their careers in their own unique way, so long as our eyes are fixed on the goal. We care deeply about making positive changes for the businesses we work with and the communities we live in, and recognize that we are part of something bigger.

Open your path at OpenText

Are you ready to open doors to limitless opportunity and adventure? To cultures and experiences from every corner of the world? Do you have the heart? If this resonates with you, check out our website to explore our opportunities and find out if OpenText is the right place for you.

For even more insights, read Versant: Decoding the OpenVerseTM, written by OpenText CEO & CTO Mark J. Barrenechea. This book explores our culture in more depth, and our vision for how our technologies will power our future world.

The post OPEN your path at OpenText appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

]]>